Type-writing machine.



H. E f-STEELE TYPE WRITING MACHINE.-

- 3110mm; rum) 111G. 17,. 19.11.

Patented Feb. 13, 1913.,

' I I Lg INVENTUR:

Y HI "AT EIRNE Y UNITED sTAT sIPA-TENT OFFICE.

HERBERT H. STEELE, 0F immunity-NEW YORK, ASSIGNQR 'ro THE MONARCI-ITYBEWRITER COMPANY, or sYEAcn sE, NEwYonK, A CORPORATION on NEW- YORK.

rrrn wnrrmenaonmn.

Patented Feb. 18,1913.

To all whom, it may concern.

Be it known that I, HERBERT citizen of the United States, and residentof'.

My invention relates to typewriting ma chines and more particularly .tosprings for returning the type actions, or parts thereof, to normalposition, and to means for controlling the action of said springs so asto' vary the effective force thereofas the same is applied to aid thereturn movement of the parts.

normal position without correspondingly modifying the force exerted bysaid springs. initially on the parts with which'they .eo-i

10; Thefsub levers are slotted at 11 in the act.

A still further o'b ect of invention is to provide improved meanswhereby a vari-.- ation in the touch of all' of the keys ofthe typeactions may be simultaneously effected without altering or interferingwith the accelerated action of the type bars.

To the above and other ends which will hereinafter appear, my inventionconsists in the features of construction, arrangements of parts lndcombinations of devices to be set forth in the to lowing description andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical central fore and aftsectional view of a typewriting machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2is a detail fragmentary plan View of a portion of the constructionrepresented in Fig. 1.

I have shown my invention embodied, in the present instance, in aMonarch machine but have shown only so much of said machine as may benecessary to arrive at an understanding of my invention. It should Oneof the main objects of my invention is to provide means for varying theefi'ective' .force of the springs to return the parts to A furtherobject of my invent-ion provide comparatively simpleand'eliicientadjustable means for varymg the effective ap ieaanimeamigan17,1912. SerialNo. 715,589. v

.be' understood, however, that the invention may be embodied in variouscharacters of :typewritingmachines and that the'construc- 'tion may bevariously modified to facilitate such embodiment. v

The frame of the" machine comprises a base 1, corner posts 2', and a toplate 3. The carriage (not'shown) may e ofthe usual or any suitablecharacter, a cylinducal-platen 4, which is carried by the carriage,being diagrammatically represented .inFig. 1. The type actions shown inthe present instance are similar to those embodied in the Monarchmachine, each type bar 5 striking upwardly and. rearwardly against thefront time of, the platen. Each type bar is "con nected by apull link 6to a sub-lever 7 ,pivoted at 8 to a key lever 9, which key levers are'siibstantially horizontally disposed and' the keyboard of the-machinewherelthey are provided with finger keys usual manner for cooperationwith a fixed fulcrum rod 12 which extends beneath the key levers andisfixed at its ends in the base of the machine, Each key lever is formedwitha curved tread 13 adapted tobear upwardlyagainstthe-bottoni ,face ofa fixed fulcrum plate 14:. The key levers are slotted at--15 for thereception of a fixed rod 16 by which th'e' key' levers are preventedfrom f creeping longitudinally along the fulcrum plate. The usual guidecombs 17 and 18 are also provided 'for cooperation with key levers toguide them in their movements.

It will be understood that normally the forward end of the curvedcontact tread of each key lever bears'against the fulcrum plate, andthat as the associated .finger key is depressed a rocking or rollingcontact is efl'ectedbetween the curved contact tread of the key leverand the fixed fulcrum plate, thereby aflording a variation in theleverage -which ,is,efl"ective to produce an accelerated movement of thetype bar in its movement toward the printing point. Each key lever has ahook-like strap 19 of the usual 0on struct-ion connected thereto at 20.The upper looped end of each strap receive. a wire returning spring 21.These springs in .the present instance are formed in pairs by eraldirection as thekey levers and sublugs and being looped at one end likea hair-pin, the looped end being bent downwardly at 22 for the reception"of a log or projection 23 on across bar 24 of a support or carrier 25.The looped ends of the springs are prevented from accidentaldisplacementfrom the lugs 23 by a plate 24f detachably secured in placeon the carrier by screws and having a downwardly bent rear edge 2i thusbe understood that each arm or memher .of the spring in itselfconstitutes a re-- turning spring 21 connected with the as sociated ty eaction through a strap 19. It will be an erstood that each spring 21bears against the upper side-of the cross bar 24 of the spring supportor carrier 25, and that the springs are arranged above the key leversand extend longitudinally in the same stantiaily parallel therewith. Thearrange mentof. the forward free end of each spring 21 in theloop orstrap 19 of the associated key lever is such as to afiord a relativeslid-' 'ing adjustment of the spring in its loop, for purposes whichwill hereinafter more clearly appear. The carrier 25 for the returningsprings in the present instance comprime the cross bar 24 provided withtherearwardly extending lugs or projections 23 and with ears 26 at theends of the cross bar. These ears are slotted at 27, the slots extendingfore and aft of the machine. Headed screws 28 are received in tappedopenings in the base 1 of the machine and extend throu h the slots 27 ofthe carrier with the heads of the screws lowermost to support and guidethe carrier on the base of themachine. The carrier is also provided witha rearwardly extending arm 29 provided .with a rack'30 on one side edgethereof tog cobperation with a pinion 31, the

i rackheing' held in mesh with the pinion by a fixed ide pin 30. Thispinion is fixed n a'spinolle 32 which extends through anpening in thebase of the machine. The uper end of the spindle is fix- ;-.iedly eonnee5K whiclithe finger piece and pinion may be p to a finger piece or wheeld3 provided with a knurled portion 34; by

turned. A shouldered portion 35 on the fin- -ger piece bears against theupper side of the base of the machine to provide a sun port for thefinger piece and pinion. The pinion itself bearing against the bottomwall of that portion of the base oi the machine in the spindle-82 isreceived, and the shout 35 bearing against the upper side of thatportion of the base, prevent a vertical displacement of the pinion andfinger Wheel but enable these parts to be readily turned to transmitmovement to the rack 30, and to the carrier 25 with which the rack isconnected.

It will be seen that a turning of the finger horizontal movement of thecarrier 25 fore and aft of the machine and to simultaneously produce acorresponding bodily'movement or adjustment of all of the returningsprings 21, the adjustment of the springs being in the direction-of thelength thereof, and in the direction of the length of the key levers. Itwill also be noted that during this adjustment of the springs the freeend portions thereof slide through the loops of the straps 19 so that ofthe springs are brought nearer to or far the! from the straps 19,depending on the adjustment of the finger piece 33. The effect of thisadjustment is to simultaneously vary the efi'ect-ive lengths of all ofthe springs so that when said springs are flexed during the operation ofthe type actions greater or less force will be exerted there- ;by,depending on the adjustment of the finger piece 33 and the effectivelength of the springs determined by such adjustment. It will be noted,however, that the movement not alter the relations of the springs intheir parallel positions with reference to the key leversj In otherwords, the bodily adjustment of the springs in the manner described doesnot flex or relax the springs the anchored ends wheel 33 is effective toproducea rectilinear .95 of the returning springs during the adjustmentthereof with the carrier 21 do esand therefore does not vary,-or vary toany appreciable extent, the force exerted by the springs initially onthe key levers, notwithstanding the variation brought about in theeffective lengths of the springs and a corresponding variation in theforce exerted by the springs during lho actuation of the type actions.

It will be understood that the construction and relations of the partsare such that there is no tendency to displace the carrier from theposition to which it may be adjusted and, on the olhcr hand, the i forceexerted'by'the springs has a le lvlluy to maintain the carrier in theposition to which it is adjusted.

' It will be seen that each spring 21, exec t at its anchored. end. is asubstantially straight wire spring, the. force of whiclris exertedupwardly on the associated key lever to return it and the partsl1llt(l0(l therewith to the normal position and to main tain the curvedtrend of the lacy lover against the fulcrum plate with which itcoopcrntcs. It will also be observed that the variation in thecii'ectivo length oi each spring in no manner alters or HHH'lllllS theaccelerated action of the type bars. such the finger piece 33 outside oftheframe of the machine, where it is readily accessible to the operator,enables the returning springs to be easily adjusted. The construction asa Whole is simple and efiicient and.

y readily lends itself to embodiment in existing forms of typewritingmachines such as the Monarch machine, for exam 1e, without modifying, ormaterially m0 ifying, the

structural features-of said machines as tliey ,now exist.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a typewriting machine, the combi-' nation of a key actuatedmember, a return ing spring therefor, and means for varying at will theefi'ecti e length of said spring,

said means comprising a support for one end of the spring, means for,operatively 7 connecting the opposite end of said spring to said keyactuated member, and adjustable means for varying the distance betweensaid support and said connecting means for the opposite end of thespring. 4

2. In a'typewrit-in machine, the combination of'a series of toyactuated'members, a series of returning springs therefor, and

means for simultaneously varying the ef-' fective length of all of saidsprings.

3. In a typewritingmachine, the combination of a key actuated. member, areturning spring therefor, and means for varying the point of connectionbetween said spring and key actuated member.

vAt. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a key actuated member,a-returning spring therefor, and hand 'actua ted adjusting means forincreasing or decreasing the distance between the point of connection ofthe spring with said key actuated member;

and the support for the spring.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a key actuated member, areturning spring connected therewith, and means for efi'ectlng a bodilysubstantially rectilinear adjustment of said spring to vary theeffective length thereof.

6. In a typewritini machine, the combination of a series of ey actuatedmembers, a series of returning springs therefor, means for operativelyconnecting the springs. with said member so as to afford a bodilyadjustment of the springs relatively thereto at the point of connectionof the springs, a common support for all of said springs, and means foreffecting a bodily adjustment of said su )port.

. In a typewriting machine, the combiseries of returning springs, meansfor op eratively connecting the springs with said levers so as to affordan adjustment of the springs relatively to said levers in the generaldirection of the length thereof, said springs being arrangedsubstantially parallel with those portions of said levers with which thesprings are connected,"a common support-for all of said springs, andmeans, for effecting a substantially rectilinear adjustment of saidsupport.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a key actuated member, areturning spring -therefor, a connectionv between r said spring andmember, which connection remains constant relatively to the member butaffords a variation in the position of the spring relatively to saidmember atthc point where the spring .co-acts with connection, andadjustable means for effectin e ect saidadjustment of the spring.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combi nation of a series ofkeyactuated members, a series of' returning springs therefor,connections between said springs and members, which connections remainconstant. relatively-to the members-but afford a variation 7 in theposition of the springs relatively to said members, a common carrier foralllof said sprlngs, and means for effect ng. a

a bodily movement of said spring tobodily adjustment of said carrier ands a 11. In a typewriting mach1ne,.the oomb1-.

nation of a series of key actuated members, a series ofreturnlngsprin'gs therefor a common' support for said springs,saidsupport being mounted for sliding adjustment, a

rack connected with said support, a pinion meshing with said rack, anda'fi-nger piece for'turning said pinion. a

12. In a .typewriting machine, the combination of a series of keyactuated levers; a-

series of returning springstherefor, said springs being arrangedsubstantially -1par-' allel with said levers; and means 'forsimultaneously varying the effective length of all of said springs, saidmeans comprising a bodily movable cwrrier common to all of said springsfor effecting a. bodily adjustment of the springs in the direction oftheir lengtlnandmeans for effecting a bodily adjustment of said carrier.

13. In a. typewriting machine, the combination of a series of keyactuated levers; al series of returning springs therefor, said outcorrespondingly altering the force exertedvinitially bysaidspring onsaid mem I chine where it is readily" accessible to theoutcorrespondingly springs being" arrangedsubstantially par-. allel withsaid levers; and means for-simultaneously varying the effective lengthof all of said springs, said means comprising a bodily movable carriercommon to all of said springs for effecting a bodily adjustment of I thesprings in the direction of their length, a rack connected with sa dcarrier, a pinion meshing with said rack, and a finger piece arrangedoutside'of the frame of the maoperator, said finger pie'ce beingconnected with said pinion to control it and thus efiec't a bodilyadjustment of 'the carrier and a lengthwise bodily adjustment ofthe'springs.

14;. In a typewritingmachine,.the combination of a key actuated lever, areturning spring connected therewith, an adjustable support for saidspring, a rack connected with said support, a pinion meshing with saidrack, and a finger piececonnec'ted with s'aid'pinion said finger piecebeing located outside the frame of themachine for ready ,manipulationtoadjust said support.

15. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a key actuatedInember,.,a'returning'spring therefor, and means for varying theeffective force exerted by said spring to return said member to normalposition with: altering the force exerted initially by sa1 spring onsaidmember.

16. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a type bar,act-uatingmeansthere for including means for iefiecting an acceP- 'eratioIi ofthevtype bar in its movement to the printing positlon, a returningspring for" saidtype bar, and means for varying theefiective forceexertedby said. spring to return saidmex'nberlto normal position with-Copies of this patentinay-be obtained for her and without affecting theacceleration of the type bar.

17. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a type bar, a keyactuated lever operatively connected therewith, a fulcrum plate on whichthe key actuated lever has a rocking movement to effect an accelerationof the type bar as the latter moves toward key actuated lovers have arocking motion to effect an acceleration of the type bars as they movetoward the printing position, returning springs for said levers andwhich exert a force to maintain the levers against the fulcrumplate,"sa1d springs extending longitudinally in the same generaldirection asv s'aid levers, and means for efiecting a simultaneousbodily adjustment of said springs in the direction of their lengt-htovary the eEective force of-said springs.

" ssigned at Syracuse, in the "county of Onondaga and State of New York,this 15th day of August, A. D. 1912.

HEnBEnT L STEELE. Witnesses: H. BARRY, BESSIE Kn'i'rnLL.

five cents each, by addressing,theffloxhmiesioxier of Patents.Washlngton, 0. p

